he Inter American Press Association (IAPA) on Wednesday described as an “assault on press freedom” the decision by a Guatemalan appeals court to revoke the house arrest of journalist José Rubén Zamora, founder of El Periódico.

The Guatemalan Appeals Court ordered the journalist to return to prison amid the criminal proceedings that the Public Ministry (Prosecutor’s Office) has ongoing against him, although this decision is not yet final.

“The court’s decision is a direct affront to freedom of expression and the citizens’ right to be informed,” emphasized José Roberto Dutriz, President of the IAPA, in a statement.

He added that the measure is “without legitimate grounds” and confirms “a pattern of persecution orchestrated against José Rubén Zamora.”

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo stated in an interview with EFE that his government is working to ensure that mass deportations agreed with the United States do not worsen the already fragile economy of his country. He warned that without the creation of “job opportunities and sources of work,” the migration crisis could worsen.

“Our intention is to show the United States that we must avoid allowing these deportations to lead to an economic deterioration process in a country where we already have worrying indicators. If the result is that, instead of solving the migration problem, we will only exacerbate it,” Arévalo emphasized.

The president, who traveled to Montevideo for the inauguration of progressive leader Yamandú Orsi on Saturday, defended the recent agreement with the US to receive up to 40% more flights with irregular migrants, both from Guatemala and other nationalities. He assured that the details of the agreement “are still being discussed.”

Migrants who are not Guatemalan will be sent back to their respective home countries at the expense of the US, according to Arévalo, who stressed that the deal, signed in February during a visit by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, “is an agreement” and not an imposition.

Another disappointment for Manchester United: the defending FA Cup champions were eliminated in this edition’s round of 16, losing in a penalty shootout (4-3 after a 1-1 draw) to Fulham on Sunday at Old Trafford.

Swede Victor Lindelof and Dutchman Joshua Zirkzee were the ‘Red Devils’ who missed their shots against goalkeeper Bernd Leno, sending the ‘Cottagers’ to the penultimate round of the oldest football competition.

The elimination is a heavy blow for a United team that is currently struggling in the Premier League, where they sit in a lowly 14th place.

Now, the Europa League, where they will face Real Sociedad in the first leg of the round of 16 next week, appears to be their only chance to lift a trophy this season. Last year, the FA Cup, in which United triumphed in the final against their neighbors Manchester City, was the competition that saved their campaign. The previous season, they had reached the final, finishing as runners-up.